Fluid drive clutch



March 9, 1943- F. M. HEADLEY FLUID DRIVE CLUTCH Filed Sept. `1.8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l NN NWN N1 March 9, 1943- F. M. vHEADLEY FLUID DRIVE CLUTCH Filed sept. 18, 1941 Y 2 sheets-snaai 2 zz 7% W22 Jmf/Z/Ymdzy clutch. which plifled transmission, and-also provide an auto` piing which wil-1 allowpower ratio. Without the use oftthel ordinary `vari,-v

Peteefed Mer- 9 1943- e "`f ,`1f l`"rancisM"Hdieyi PleasantvillQl-Nf. f l Application'September 18, 1941*.'SerialNo41'1g402 i 13' claims'. lorca-,54)

My invention relates to newandzuseful improvements in clutches, and more particularly to what is knownas a, fluid drive clutch. f

As is well known to those skilled-in the art, one type of iiuid drive clutch consists Agenerally oi'. the two members fhaving' faces, each of which is provided with varioustypes of vanes or haines, while various means' are `utilized for varying the proximity ofthe clutch faces and vanes orbailles so that at an'idling'speedof the motor the uid in the clutch may be by-passedand thus not act on the driven face of the clutchbut on a speeding up of themotor and its respective clutch face, the fluid in the clutch is forced against the vanes or baiiies of the driven: face portion of the clutch to thusimpart 'thezdriving force from themotor to the driven shaft. f

One of the principal objectslof the :present-inf vention isto `provide a1 simplied iiuid drive Vwill also permitrof a greatly lsim- `matic variable driving power ratio .whiclrwill'be very effective andefiicientin operation.

Still another objectv of the inventionis to pro-` vide a simplied and'improvedtype of fluid coufor the variable driving able gear transmission andother clutch control 'mechanisms l .v .Still another object ofthe invention is to provide a uid clutch which assures a perfect neutral action at idling speeds; and` willV permit of a snnplied gearl transmission mechanism which will be reduced to'one forward and reverse gear, a small lever` which may be` shifted freely by controlen the steering column. y f

Still another object yof. the invention is toyprovide a fluid clutch wherein the 4normal clutch pedal is eliminated, so that one foot may. be kept` on the brake pedal and the other kept` on the accelerator, thus making .it unnecessary to shift the foot in the driving of the can f stepped up; s o likewise 'willi thejrevolutions the driven shaft' be vsped up,`l as theV by-pass" of 'the oil 1between the `vanes ofthe respective clutch faces is automaticallycut down. d i

.. ,r respective halves 'of Vtheclutch Still anotherobject of the inventionis topro;

vide an extremely simpliiied form of fluid clutch drive wherein there areilxed and movable vanes, the movable vanes being moved' outwardly and inwardly radially of lthe the speed ofthemotor and-driven shaft.v

Still another object ofthe invention-'is to provide a simplified iiuid driveclutch whereinmov able radial vanes onboth the respective faces -`of* the ,clutch are moved Aoutwardly by centrifugal clutch; .depending upon force to thus eiectively couple the driveshaft of v the motor-with the driven shaft' of the motor vehicle, and as the revolutions of the motor are ratio of automobiles nowinuse.

Still another objectief thexinventionis. to prof,

f Still another'object of theinvention to pro-` vide apfluidclutchffor vmotor vehicleswherein the i clutchjarel provided l with "opposite iixed-vanes'with `certain apertures. v

formed therein, while mounted for radial. movement on'these respective xedvanes are movable vanes which willbe. forced radiallyoutwardlyto couple effectively thet two faces `as the vspeedoi the motor is increased.r u v -Still another object of the-invention` isftoyprovide a iiuidfcouplingrwhich permits .thel driven shaft'to remain stationaryat-an idling speed of the motor, but will progressively cutoi .the.fby passing of the oilbetweengthevanes u pto,.say, thirty-five or forty miles-11erl hour speed. 0f;1;he vehicle, after which theol] in the clutch between the respective vanes obtained and' the'k forwardxgear -ratio might; be saidto be comparable to the present overdrive vide a fluid drive'clutch wherein `theremay'bel obtained a f very emcient, braking action kby de celerating the motor :and-,letting the compres.-

sion of the motor actas afbrake. 'Y

`With these. and other-.objects in View, the in-v vention consists in certain new J Vrangements 'and combination of parts asfwill be i hereinaftermore fully. described and' pointed out intheclaims.' 9 r Y' v i 1 ff" Referringnow to the drawingsshowing a preferred formof the invention,

Fig. l is avertical-sectionalview; showing the andthe movable vanesintheir normal positiony f 1 lFig; 21`is` a similar view but showing the mov-1 able vanes "on the 'drive 'face of the.. clutch'vas having "movedradially to theiroutermost posiby-pass of oil tion tojthereby partly restrict'the Y y betweeni these -vanes and the cooperating v'anes on the driven face ofthe clutch; n F i3* Fig. 3 is va siinilar'view showing the' respective passing of thevoilbetween the re'specztive",vanes;` ....Fig. 4 isa fragmentary sectionalvijew taken the arrows;

will; cease tok be by-passed sothat for higher'speeds, an effective coupling -is andmover armovable:vanesofbothifaces oitheclutch f, A ing' lbeen moved' by centrifugal,force"to"`their, i outermost position to effectively cut oimthe by.' l

ing h .thedlrection of 'y yfixed'vanes are fittedl a housing lwm tenete keep g ber may be tightly movable or slidable vane v and to the other lside of the fixed vane A is the movablevane I8. f

l the by-lpass of the oil is cut off when the movable vanes on both faces of the clutch have moved Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view taken on lines-8 of Fig. l showing how `theslidable vanes are pinned `through the permanent vanes.

Referring now for the moment to Fig. 4, there is shown a fragmentary portion of one face of 1 the clutch, to wit, the drive face of the clutch, but it is to be understood at the outset that the cooperative driven ception that on the driven face of the clutch the slightly longer; and the movable vanes are positioned nearer the center.

Still referring to Fig. 4 and also to Fig. may be` seen the vcircular plateor clutch 4face-A I,y

which is provided withthe inwardly extending flange 2 and the central opening 3 in which is l inl hich issecuredthe drive shaft!y from the motor (notshown) 1 It will Ibe understood that any form-ofl locking means may caping out along the drive shaft.l f

There is also shown which corresponds in outlineto its cooperating plate I, and is to be likewise securedto the driven shaft1. i

I havek also showntwo oil glands 8 .on the ref spectiveshafts l and] -to prevent the-leakageof oi1,`and it will be understood that .any desirable form may be used, as'those shown are merely for the purpose of illustration. i I- g Likewise, I have shown a trunnion 8 on the end of thedrive shaft i. a receptive opening I in the driven shaft, which the twoshaftsin alignment.; It willl also .beunderstoodthat the two clutch 'faces are in relatively closeproximity but their respectively inwardly turned flangesy ydo not contact to thus avoid any friction. Oil out between the flanges into the surrounding oil chamber I I which is formed by the two stationary plates' I2VV and I3, which follow in.-icontour the aforementioned clutch `plates but 5 are ``relatively largerg'w enclose lthe said; clutch faces, as may be readily'seen.

There is also shown a-flange I4 withits gasket Y Il, so-that the respective halves ofthis oil chambolted together. i Referring vnowfor the-moment to Fig. 4, there may be seen a plurality tending varies A which arespaced at any desired intervals on the inner's'urfacel of the drive face of the clutch. be an integralr castingwith thefixedvanes likewisec'ast integral. land'these vanes will be pro-.

vided with a plurality of semi-circular cutout porv tions I6 which cutouts are spaced along theouterV fragmentary sectional i the driven clutch plate-6 will be forced these vanes (Fig.

'2,318,435 Figfisv an enlarged fragmentary sectional The vanes I1 and I`8`are also identical andare likewise provided with the semi-circular cutout portions I 9 along their outer edge. The height of 4)l is thesame as the height of the fixed vanes A, so that when the movable vanes are in their normal position (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) the cutouts I6 ofthe fixed vane A will be in registry with the cutoutsy I9 in the movable vanes I1 and I8.

Each of the fixed vanes A is slotted near its Opposite rends as at 20.-

which pass through the aforemenface is similar withthe ex- V- 1,"there tothe clutch faceI as at 24.t

-be utilized, for locking*y this clutch faceto the i drive shaft, and for preventing the oil from g eswhich will; turn freely within permit a. free vradial movement There will, of course, be sufficient clearance between'the fixed vane and the movable vanes to y l of the movable vanes alongthe'said fixed vane.

Also secured .to the movable vane I1 is the spring 2 2- and likewise lto the vane I8 is pinned the spring 23, theV opposite ends of the springs being pinned /Thetensionof these springs on these ymovable, vanes I 1 and 1I8-issuch that they normally .hold these radilaly movable vanes -in their innermost position-that; is, towardsthehub; q Looking at Fig. l for thefmoment, it will beseen Vthat the weight of the vanes'in the-upper half of the ycircle will'also actfwiththe springsto hold the vanes in their normal or innermost position. and -in the lower ,half of the circlethe vanes will beheldin their innermostposition wholly by the tension of thesprings. It vwill be understood that the -springs shown are v merely illustrative, and springs with the-desiredtension will be utilized. As far as'rthe description ofthe vanes vhas proceeded, it will be seen that there are a plurality of radially extending fixed vaneszon theopposite sides ofwhich are'thefmovable varies,I all of which areprovided with cutout portions-for the by-passing of the fluid inthe clutch, and all of which by-passes areinregistry when the clutch face is in a stationary position. z 1

' Now the opposite clutch face 6 (the 'driven clutch face) is similar in that there are the same radially extending; fixed vanes B, while on the 25 that are held inftlieir normalposition bythe springs 26 and are pinned for movement in the same way vthe previously mentioned vanes are 'of the xed-radially ex- This whole clutch face Vor plate may pinned. I f

It will be noticed thaty these-.fixed vanes B are slightly longer than the fixed vanes A. It is also to be noticed that the cutout portions 21 in the fixed vane are disposed opposite the straight edges 28 of the fixed vanesA vso that the semi-circular openings ofthe fixed vane A and its movable vanes Iland I8 are in staggered' relation with'the registered openings of the fixed vane B and the openings in the .movable vanes which are slidingly attachedto the -fixed vane B.

Thus, when thelmotor is idling and at a relatively low speed, the' oil will be by-passed through edges ofthe varies, as may alsobeseen from'Figsu 1,2and3.` u A :Associated with these fixed varies are movable i varies and a descriptiono'f the onefixedvane and theftwo movable varies will others. f Y j Still referring to Fig;

be a description of the ,4, l'there may be seen a I1, and'directly opposite vthese staggered semi-,circular openings between out into the oil chamber may ow backthrough The radially `movable varies I1 and I8 'arepermanently pinned together by the pins 2| per hour up,

these openings between the two clutch faces, and thus relieve any pressure that might otherwise be caused in the outer oil chamber.

The clutch is -iilled with oil, the liquid level being shown in Fig. 1. .f Having 'explained the structure, theoperation would be as follows: 1

On an idling or,relatively low speed of the motor (not shown) the drive shaft will revolve the clutch face l and the movable vanes I1 and `|8 will be in the normal position as shown in Fig. 1 and the movablevanes on the driven face of the clutch will also be in the position as shown in Fig. 1, and the oil willbypass through these staggered openings as will be readily understood. l

As the drive shaft is revolved ata greater speed, the movable 'vanes I 'l and I8 will move out radially by the centrifugal vforce exerted thereon, so that the cutout portions I9 in the movable vanes are no longerV in registry Vwith the cutout portions lIt of theiriixedgvane A, and the movable vanes will move to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6, so that now thevuid will. not be by-passed along the edges of the iixed and movable vanes on the drive clutch face A, but may only pass through the registered openings of the fixed vanes B and their movable vanes, as may be readily understoodfrom Fig. 6.

.'Ihus, there'will bea iiuid coupling between the two faces of the clutch, and the car will travel at a low speed.

As the motor is accelerated and the drivenv gains speed, itsmovable plates, will also be acted upon by thecentrifugal force face of the clutch until they reach the position shown in Figs. 3 and 7 of the drawings, so thatnot only now is the by-pass of oil cutout'from the driving face of the clutch, but likewise the openings between the movable vanes and xedvanes of the vdriven face of the clutch are not in registry, so that the iiuid being acted on bythe driven face will impart the pressure to the vanes of the driven face and thus effectively couple the drive shaft with the drivenshaft. t

Thus, between a slow driven speed and up to thirty-ve miles perhour, there will be in eiect a variable gear ratio, and from thirty-five miles all the movable vanesA willbe in their outermost position. and speaking f unctionally noneof the oil is by-passed until the motor is again decelerated, or the revolving speed of the fluid clutch mechanism is greatly reduced.

By having movable vanes on the opposite sides of all the fixed vanes, the pressure from` the oil reverse gear and one forward speed, and the car will be under perfect control of -thervdriver vby the manipulation ofthe acceleratorandspeed# ing or retarding the rotations of the engine.

r vFrom the foregoingA it will be seen that yI have provided a form of iiuid clutchI which is wholly automatic in that-the rate of speed'of the enginecontrols the. radial movement" of the movable vanes. on one face of the Wise the movement of the movable .vanes on the driven vface of the clutch will also beautomatie cally actuated by the `centrifugal force exerted on this drivenface.y f

I Inasmuch as the movableivanes are encased inl Also, it will be` understood thatsome yoil will spass'between the clutch faces, even-when in their will be exerted against all the respective movable vanes to'one side of the yfixed vanes when the clutch is acting as a drive coupling between thc driving and driven shafts, and on a deceleration of the motor when the driving face is tendingto hold back the driven face, vthe pressure from the oil will be on all'theyaneson` the opposite sides of the fixed Yvanes". t

Thus it can be seen that the form otuid drive thus described makes a very efficient coupling for the driving of the car, and likewise makes an eicient coupling when it is desired tofretard the motion of the carby decelerating the motor and its driving face or, in other words, utilizing the motor compression for braking action.

I have also found that with the form of fluid clutch 'above described, it vwill only be necessary to have a simplified transmision consisting of a fully coupled position, andout into the oil lchamber. This will be returned throughfthe open-` ingsll.,

Having described my invention, what I claim thereof, radial movable vanes pinnedr'to the respective iixed vanes, and the'flxedfa'nd movable vanes having registerable cut-outportions' to byout portions of themovable and xed vanes of said face to benen-registering, and thus stop the by-passing of iiuidr the fluid in said clutch to thereby act on the vanes ofthe driven face of said clutch, to thereby'rot'ate said driven face.

2. A uid drive cutout portions on their fixed vanes and thus stop the by-passing ofY the fluid and effectively couple the driving vface with the driven face.

clutch, Vand liketherethrough', and to cause and fixed vanes cooperating with the like vanes on the driving face of the clutch, the movable vanes on thedriving face adapted to move radially outwardly by centrifugal force when said driving face is rotated, and thus cause the cut-out portions of `the movableand fixed vvanes of said clutch face to be non-registering and' stop the by-passing of fluid therethrough, and the movable vanes on the driven face of saidclutch likewise adapted to be acted on by centrifugal force and to move -radially outwardly and thus stop-the by-passingof fluid through its vanes, and thereby cause an .effective fluid coupling between the twosaid clutch faces.

4. A fluid drive clutch including 7two cooperating clutch faces, each of said faces having radially extending cooperating fixed vanes on its'inner adjacent surfaces, the said fixed vanes having bypassing apertures formed therein, movable vanes associated likewise provided 1 with by-,passingapertures adapted to register with the apertures `oftheir respective fixed vanes, ail1of said movable vanes adapted to be radially acted upon by centrifugal force when the clutchfaces are revolved tothereby cut on the .by-passing of oil betweenthe-flxed vanes of the two clutch faces and cause an effective coupling between the two said clutchfaces. v r5.1i fluid drive clutch including drivingl and driven cooperating clutch faces, each of said faces having radially extending cooperating fixed its inner adjacent surfaces, theI said fixed vanes having by-passing apertures formed therein, movable vanes associated with each of the said fixed vanes, and-likewise provided with by-passing apertures adapted to register with the apertures of their respective fixed vanes, the aperturesin the fixed-vanes of the driven face being in staggered relation with fixed vanes ofthe driving face, the movablevanes on the driving face adapted to be moved radially topartially cut off the by-passing of the oil between the two faces on a rotation of the driving face, and the movable vanes on the driven `face likewise being radially actuated by centrifugal force to further stop the bi1-Passing of the o il between the. fixed vanes of the two faces after the driven face has reached a certain speed of rotation with relation to the driving face.

.6. A fluid drive clutc ,including a driving face and a cooperative driven face, each of said faces providedwith cooperating fixed vanes and the saidflxed vanes having apertures in staggered relation with each other for by-passing the oil between the xed vanes of the two faces, meansk actuated bycentrifugal force due to rotation of the driving face apertures of the fixed vanes of the driving face and means alsov actuated 1 by centrifugal force v face for automaticallyclosing the apertures of the fixed vanes of the driven face, after the:A closing of the apertures of the fixed vanes ofthe driving face.

'1. Ina fluid driveclutch Ya drive face, said face provided with integral outstanding radially disposed fixed vanes having apertures formed therein, slidable vanes disposed on the lopposite sides of each of the fixed vanes, said slidable with each of the said fixed vanes, and` the apertures in the vanes also provided with apertures and means for holding the slidable vanes sothat their apertures normallyy register with the apertures in theirrespective fixed vanes, and said slidable vanes adapted .to move radially outwardly on rotation of the drive face to thereby close the' apertures in the fixed vanes.

8. A-.fiuid clutch drive, including a'drive face and a drivenface located in closeproximity to for automatically closing the f each other, each of the faces provided with a series of fixed vanes with their adjacent edges being in close proximity to each other when the clutch is assembled, by-pass apertures formed in the respective fixed vanes, meansassociated with the respective fixed vanes for first automatically cutting of! the apertures in one series ofvanes and then cutting-off the .apertures in the other series 'of vanes on the rotation of the 'respective clutch faces. f 1

9. In a fluid clutch drive a driven face, nxed vanes .extending radially thereof andprovided with by-passing apertures, movable vanes associated therewith, Aand the said movable vanes adapted to` close the said apertures in the fixed vanes when the rotation of the driven face reaches a certain rotativev speed; i

-10. A fluid clutch drive, including adrive face and a driven face, e'ach of the faces provided with a series of radially extending fixed vanes, each ofthe vanes also provided with by-passing apertures, and means associatedfwth'thexed vanes and actuatedby centrifugal force for progressively'cutting off first the by-passes in the series of fixed vanes on the driving ,face and then cutting off the by-passing apertures in the vanes in the driven face, to thus form an effective fluid coupling between the two faces."l 11. In a fluid clutch drive a driving and driven face having fixed vanes extending in close proximity-to each other, said vanes beingprovided with by-passing cut-out portions, radial movable means associated with the fixed vanes for cutting off said by-passes von relatively high rotative speeds of the said two faces, and further means for holding said cut-off means normally in an inoperative position on Yrelatively low rotative speeds of the two clutch faces. n

412, In a fluid clutch drive a driving and driven face `having fixed vanes extending in close proximity to each other, said vanes being provided with by-passing 'cut-out portions, radial movable cut-off means associated with the fixed vanes on the drive face for cutting off said by-passes-when a certain rotative speed is reached, additional means for holding said cut-off means on the driven face normally in an-inoperative position until said driven facelikewise reaches a certain rotative speed due to thev fluid coupling between the two said faces. t

13. In a fiuid clutch drive a driving andldriven face having fixed vanes extending in close proximity to each other, saidv vanes being provided with by-passing cutout p'ortions,'radial movable cut-off means associated with the fixed vanes on the driveface for cutting off said by-passes whenV a certain rotative able cut-off means FaANcIs M. HEADLY. 

